Jesse O’Neill discovered he has a gluten allergy in 2011. A gluten-free diet can be rather restricting, and he missed some of his favorite foods. He asked his wife Lauren, who loves to bake, if she would create a gluten-free doughnut.

Lauren was up to the challenge. After weeks of experimentation, she finally perfected a recipe that resulted in a moist, fluffy, flavorful doughnut. They were so good, in fact, that in 2015, the duo took their doughnuts on the road. Well, more specifically, to the local farmers’ markets. Lauren has developed tempting flavors such as s’mores, peanut butter, and king cake (a cinnamon doughnut with cream cheese butter cream in the center and glaze on top.) Their most popular flavor is maple bacon -- a bacon doughnut with maple glaze and crumbled bacon on top. Even people who are not gluten intolerant or have celiac disease enjoy these treats.

Lauren says she loves working in the kitchen. She contributes her love of baking to her grandmother, Willie Smith. "She was one of my greatest influences. She taught me so many nifty tricks. I’ve always wanted to own my own bakery. When I was a kid, my mom would come into the kitchen at 11:00 p.m. and I’d be baking. I love to create things in the kitchen. I love painting and creating art, but when you put me in the kitchen, that’s my art!

The O’Neills are remodeling a building on Alamo St. and plan to open O’Neills Doughnut Shop in the near future. They’ll primarily serve doughnuts, as well as waffles, stuffed waffles, breakfast and doughnut sandwiches, and lighter lunch options like soups and sandwiches, all gluten free, of course.